The Aggression-Inhibiting and Aggression-Facilitating Influence of Heightened Sexual Arousal.

Baron, Robert A.; Bell, Paul A.

Eighty-six undergraduate males participated in an experiment designed to investigate the impact of various types of erotic stimuli upon aggression. On the basis of previous research, it was hypothesized that exposure to mild erotic stimuli would tend to inhibit subsequent aggression, while exposure to more arousing stimuli of this type would facilitate such behavior. In order to examine this hypothesis, male subjects were first angered or treated in a more neutral manner by a confederate of the experimenter, and then provided with an opportunity to aggress against this person by means of electric shock. Before aggressing, participants were exposed to one of five different types of stimuli, nonerotic pictures of furniture, scenery, and abstract art; pictures of semi-nude females; pictures of nude females; pictures of couples engaged in various acts of love-making; or explicit erotic passages. Results offered support for the major hypothesis. (Author)